FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7-25-00

AASU Baseball Signs Two From California For 2000

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic State announced today the signing of a pair of California junior college transfers to National Letters of Intent to play for the Pirates in 2000.

Jason Pruitt, a 5-9, 165-pound outfielder from Delano, Calif., earned All-Conference and All-State honors as a sophomore at Bakersfield CC after hitting .423 for the season, ranking him 30^th among all players at California's 86 junior colleges. A lefty, Pruitt also stole 20 bases, scored 50 runs and collected 26 walks and eight hit by pitches for a .523 on-base percentage for the Renegades. Pruitt played at the same high school (Delano) and junior college as Ray Castillo, the starting shortstop for the Pirates each of the past two seasons.

Justin Worrell, a 6-0, 195-pound lefthanded pitcher from Lacy, Wash., was 3-0 with a 4.44 ERA this season at Lassen CC. The southpaw pitched 26 innings, allowing 29 hits, nine walks and 14 strikeouts as a spot starter and situational lefty for the Cougars. Worrell was an All-State pitcher at Timberline HS in Lacy, Wash.

These signees bring AASU's total class to 11, with 10 junior college transfers and five players from the state of Georgia. AASU finished the 2000 season with a 37-17 record and a No. 25 national ranking.

- Pirates -